In Forum

In Forum

October 27, 2014 InForum Issue

Results from the 2014 Annual Lawyer Reports have been tabulated, and the new Statistical Snapshot is now online. For easy reference anytime, it’s located under About us on the homepage at nsbs.org. Read More

by Louise Poirier QC, Judge Bill MacDonald and Connie McNeill
A distinguished member of the Bar, Graham D. Walker QC passed away peacefully on October 14, 2014.
Graham dedicated his life to the public service of the province and he was highly respected by premiers, cabinet ministers, members of the Legislative Assembly, and senior public servants in all departments. Read More

Note: The following article has been republished with permission from its author John-Paul Boyd, Executive Director of the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family. It originally appeared on his Access to Justice in Canada Blog/Forum on Oct. Read More

The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) is pleased to announce that our Legal Information Line and Lawyer Referral Service is now open longer. The new hours are:
Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Closed from 1:00 – 2:00 pm.
Call the Legal Information Line and Lawyer Referral Service at: Read More

If so, the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) is inviting you to sign up to be on a roster of lawyers to be administered by the Prothonotaries of the Regional Justice Centres (excluding HRM). Read More

Register for LIANS’ upcoming education session on November 7 from noon to 1:00 pm, with the option to attend in-house or by webinar. This event will be hosted by Russ Adams, Vice-President of Operations at Property Valuation Services Corp., and will cover the following: Read More

While children, like adults, are inherently resilient, they will generally be emotionally impacted by tragic events such as the death of a family member, street shootings, natural disasters or other traumatic incidents. Regardless of their age or how they interpret these events, children may experience strong emotions such as anxiety, vulnerability, confusion, fear or loss of control. Read More

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has streamlined the protocol for media requests for permission to use cameras in the courtroom during court proceedings.
The old process, first put into place in March of 2003, has been repealed.
The new one took effect on October 8, 2014. It significantly reduces the paperwork and processing time required. Read More

Do you want to make a difference in Nova Scotia? The Province of Nova Scotia is seeking energetic and enthusiastic Nova Scotians to serve on its various Adjudicative and Non Adjudicative Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs). Read More

A retirement party in honour of M. Estelle Theriault QC, Public Trustee of Nova Scotia is being held on Thursday, October 30, 2014 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at The Bitter End, 1572 Argyle Street, Halifax. All are welcome to attend.
Hosted by friends and co-workers.
Please RSVP: ingrahsl@gov.ns.ca
Read More

News releases from the provincial government are available at this link, and are searchable by department and date: http://novascotia.ca/news/
The following are some announcements since the last edition of InForum: Read More

On October 17, the Canadian Association of Legal Ethics released a set of educational videos in the field of Legal Ethics. The videos depict a variety of scenarios and ethical dilemmas commonly encountered by lawyers, highlighting the lawyer’s duties of confidentiality, competence and civility, the duty to avoid conflicts of interest and the lawyer’s role in enhancing access to justice. Read More

At nearly 40% of the total population of Nova Scotia, the under 35-year-old demographic is a sizeable one. It’s also largely invisible. And it’s in trouble. This is one of the key conclusions drawn from numbers released recently in the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia’s 2014 Vital Signs® report on the province’s children & youth. Read More

We are a Bedford law firm looking to sell our Nova Scotia Reports, Second Series books, Volumes 1-254 and the Nova Scotia Reports, Second Series, Digest and Indexes. Asking price is $300.00 for all. These books are in perfect condition.
For more information, please contact 902 832 1175.
Read More

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies sponsors several scholarships that provide recent graduates from Canadian law schools with an excellent opportunity to pursue graduate studies abroad. Read More

BOYNECLARKE LLP is pleased to welcome back Donald Grant to the Dartmouth based firm to join its growing Business Law Team.
Don originally joined the firm in 2008 as an articled clerk; he practised with the Business Law Team until May of 2012 when he took a position with Nova Scotia Power to practise with its Commercial Group. Read More

Shared office space available for rent, commencing January 1, 2015 with three independent, experienced lawyers, in the Mumford Professional Centre in the west end of Halifax.
Large, furnished corner office with separate paralegal station. All infrastructure in place, including shared conference room, telephone system, fax, computer server, copier, scanner, etc. Read More

Professional accountant with 15 years industry experience in Accounting, HR, Operations and IT available as a part-time CFO/Manager or on a contract basis for a project that is important to the success of your Firm.
Experienced in a varity of legal accounting systems, can provide assistance with Read More

A significant opportunity awaits a lawyer interested in corporate, commercial and property law. Working side by side with a strong team of well-respected legal professionals, you will be engaged in a wide variety of interesting matters, advising an excellent range of clients. Read More

A significant opportunity awaits a lawyer interested in family law and general litigation. Working side by side with a strong team of well-respected legal professionals, you will be engaged in a wide variety of interesting matters, advising an excellent range of clients. Read More

Our vibrant boutique law firm is currently seeking a lawyer (possibly two) to join our team. A complimentary practice involving corporate and commercial law, property law and/or wills and estates law is preferred but not a requirement. Read More

Morneau Shepell Inc provides human resource consulting and outsourcing services. The firm’s solutions are designed to help organizations reduce costs and improve their competitive positions by assisting employers with managing the financial security and well-being of their employees with an array of consulting, administrative outsourcing and training services. Read More

Cox & Palmer is a full-service, top-ranked Atlantic Canadian law firm with knowledge and experience clients rely on for solid legal solutions. The firm prides itself on a collegial work atmosphere and supportive team environment, having achieved this by hiring self-motivated, team-minded individuals with a strong work ethic, integrity and a commitment to client service. Read More

Irving Shipbuilding is part of the J.D. Irving Group of companies and is in the business of building quality ships and repairing vessels. Irving Shipbuilding was selected in 2011 as Canada’s Combatant Shipbuilder under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). Read More

Bland and Associates is a small general practice on the corner of Blowers and Argyle streets, in the heart of downtown Halifax. We are located only a minute's walk from the Spring Garden Road Provincial Court and also very close to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (General Division) on Upper Water Street. Read More

20 years experience in most areas of practice
proficient in MS Word, MS Outlook, PC Law, PC Docs, spreadsheet applications, conducting research on the internet
proven performer in accurately preparing court documents
excellent communication skills
ability to work both independently and as a team player Read More

Are you interested in doing some pro bono work? Access Legal Help NS may be able to help
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) is rolling out its Access Legal Help pilot project across Nova Scotia and is seeking volunteer lawyers. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - 11:30What do you do when your client’s ability to instruct you is in doubt by virtue of age or disability? What are the warning signs that capacity may be at issue and how can you appropriately represent him/her despite this hurdle? Hear from our panel of experts as they unravel the complexities including: Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - 13:30Join us for the second annual Life and Law Series, Women Lawyers: Sharing Success Strategies where women lawyers share their powerful stories of courage, frustration and triumphs, and chronicle their individual choices often made against considerable odds to create full and engaging professional lives. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - 14:00App development is located where rapid change meets intellectual property, new forms of exchange and perhaps a touch of the wild west. With apps changing the way people interact with the world around them, current laws continue to play catch-up, and in many instances remain in stasis, even as clients require clear, unimpeachable and bankable opinions and contracts. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - 19:00The Internet: Do We Really Have No Privacy and Should We Just Get Over It?
Michael Geist – Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - 14:00The roles, responsibilities and benefits of various corporate actors sit in a complex and ever-changing web of legal relationships, challenging both the knowledge and creativity of legal practitioners. For actors within public corporations, there are additional dimensions to consider, and the same holds true for actors within startups engaged in the raising of capital in ways old and new. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - 08:30Hear from experienced counsel some practical tips in commencing regulatory challenges to the Environmental Review Tribunal, including appeals from orders (e.g. MOE clean up orders), dealing with Renewable Energy Approvals, and commencing third party challenges using the Environmental Bill of Rights. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 19:00Mennonite Central Committee Maritimes, in partnership with a number of churches, non-profits, and universities, including Acadia Divinity College and Manning Memorial Chapel, is bringing a play based on the values of restorative justice, Forgiven/Forgotten, to venues across the Maritimes this fall. Read More

Event Date: Friday, October 31, 2014 - 08:30
The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) Halifax proudly presents the Persons Day Breakfast in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the Persons Case on October 31, 2014 at 8:30 am.
Read More

Event Date: Monday, November 3, 2014 - 13:00“Scary” issues are bound to arise from time to time in your practice. Equip yourself to handle them effectively with this timely program which brings together leading real estate experts from private practice and LawPRO to share practical strategies for effectively avoiding, managing and rectifying a host of scary issues that can arise relating to: Read More

Event Date: Monday, November 3, 2014 - 08:00Given the prevalence of mandatory mediation and the high cost of litigation, mediation is a pivotal step in employment law disputes. Mediation in the employment context raises an array of tricky ethical issues to keep you up at night: Should you disclose facts that are harmful to your case to the mediator? How do you handle a client that instructs you not to disclose key evidence? Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2014 - 12:00“Sitting on a Board: Young Lawyer Prep 101”
Boards are a great opportunity for young lawyers to be involved in the community, gain experience, and build their professional profile. Often, however, ethical and professional considerations can come into play. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2014 - 09:00Banking litigation issues touch on a myriad of aspects of civil litigation and, at one time or another, almost every civil litigator will have a file that requires bank involvement. Whether as litigants or as interested or third parties, banks have a dominant presence in litigation in Ontario, and banking lawyers are increasingly on the cutting edge of new and innovative issues from e-discover Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2014 - 08:30The province has taken steps to move forward with one of the most promising mineral development opportunities in Ontario by establishing the Ring of Fire Infrastructure Development Coroporation (ROFIDC). Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014 (All day)
UnCommon Law: Where members of the legal profession and members of the greater community speak, listen and learn from each other.
YOU’RE INVITED!
Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014 - 12:30Attend this program to gain insights from our expert faculty on a range of common legal issues that specifically engage the unique rights and circumstances of young people in the immigration and refugee law context. Understand what the issues are, how they touch on a range of practice areas, and develop strategies for effectively representing the interests of the child/ youth. Read More

Event Date: Friday, November 7, 2014 - 09:00Discover how to navigate the most challenging issues arsing in family law ADR and find out how to utilize the newest alternate ADR models. Our expert faculty will share their best strategies for managing difficult relationships, reaching settlement, getting the best results for your clients and more.
PROGRAM CHAIRS Read More

Event Date: Friday, November 7, 2014 - 13:30Should you proceed to trial or arbitration? Learn how to weigh all the pertinent factors to guide your client to the best process for his/her case. From mastering key evidence intricacies to exploring the nuances of your appeal routes, gain the expertise to excel in both dispute resolution settings.
PROGRAM CHAIRS Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 6, 2014 - 17:30As communication continues to transition to the online sphere, and bloggers and citizen journalists become increasing popular news sources, what are the implications for the cause of action and defamation? Recent case law, including the Ontario Court of Appeal decision in Baglow s. Read More

Event Date: Monday, November 10, 2014 - 12:00This past year has seen a host of developments and changes to Canadian and U.S. economic sanctions and export control rules. At the same time, vigorous U.S. and Canadian enforcement in these areas has resulted in multiple prosecutions, some including multi-billion dollar fines. While the direction of Canadian and U.S. policies is similar in some respects, the countries are not always aligned. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 09:00Join London judges and lawyers as we gather to share our success strategies and practical advice on how to navigate the demanding professions we have chosen and find the elusive work–life balance.
To view the complete agenda, click here.
PROGRAM CHAIR Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 12:15Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation came into effect on July 1, 2014. With it have come a host of questions on compliance and enforcement, many arising from the charity and not-for-profit sector. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 (All day)Registration is open until the Friday before the Online Land Registration Act training program.
The cost for this program is $600 plus HST and registrants have one week to complete the course. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 (All day)Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to identify and assess the emotions of oneself and others and then to use that information to guide one’s actions. While cognitive skills are also important, it is emotional intelligence that has the greatest impact on people’s ability to be productive and work well with others. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 (All day)
The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society invites you to participate in this important conversation facilitated by Dr. Julie Macfarlane.
Working with the Self-Represented Litigant Challenge:
New tools and strategies for lawyers
Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 08:15This year, new anti money laundering regulations have come in to force and more regulatory reforms are anticipated soon. Ensure you have the current knowledge and strategies to prevent money laundering, and to defend your clients who may be accused. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 - 17:30Join us for one of the most popular Administrative Law Section events. Ensure you are up-to-date on the latest in judicial review jurisprudence and trends. Read More

Event Date: Friday, November 14, 2014 (All day)This workshop is offered through Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute Inc. For those who work in an environment where there is potential for violence, it is important to develop the skills needed to defuse dangerous situations. Read More

Event Date: Friday, November 14, 2014 - 12:30Are you are lawyer?
Are you interested in doing some pro bono work? Access Legal Help NS may be able to help
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) is rolling out its Access Legal Help pilot project across Nova Scotia and we are coming to the Antigonish/Port Hawkesbury Region. Read More

Event Date: Monday, November 17, 2014 (All day)The ABA Section of International Law invites you to attend the “2014 North America Regional Forum: Doing Business within the Region and Collaborating Abroad” Conference on November 17-18, 2014 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Read More

Event Date: Monday, November 17, 2014 - 17:30The impact of today’s diverse workforce is beginning to be felt in ways which were previously unimagined. Many organizations, including, law firms, are requiring minimum levels of diversity from contractors and suppliers. Implementation of these policies poses new challenges to those very institutions trying to increase diversity. Specifically: Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 (All day)As the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure), 2000 marks its fourteenth year of regulation of franchising in Ontario, franchisors and franchisees are sharing the challenges of complying with new regulations governing their industries while maintaining their focus on operating profitable businesses. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 02:30This seminar, led by Catherine Watson, TEP, Partner, McInnes Cooper, will examine legal and tax considerations relating to ownership of vacation properties in the US and Europe, with a focus on US estate taxes and civil law issues.
Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 17:30Mediators, arbitrators, collaborative professionals and the counsel appearing before them encounter a myriad of ethical challenges in their ADR practices. Join us for this interactive program to learn how to tackle the complexities. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 18:00In partnership with the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, Pamela Callow, author of the Kate Lange thriller series and Julie Sobowale, lawyer/journalist will cover the basics of copyright and contracts and give an insider’s perspective working in the publishing industry. Read More

Event Date: Friday, November 21, 2014 (All day)In the end it’s all about compensation. Numbers are everywhere. From future loss calculations and statistics to cost-benefit analysis, and more. Let APTLA sharpen your math skills so you can sharpen your opponent’s pencil with THE NUMBERS GAME, a premiere CLE conference which brings you strategies and techniques from the top experts to improve your performance. Read More

Event Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014 - 08:30The Law Society of Prince Edward Island and the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society have specific requirements for lawyers practicing in those provinces. In addition to set hours of substantive legal education, lawyers require hours annually in specialty topics such as Risk and Practice Management and Professionalism. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 (All day)Free training on WestlawNext Canada is available on November 25, 26 & 27 at the Barristers’ Library in Halifax.
Library & Information Services licenses WestlawNext Canada, a comprehensive online legal research product, for lawyers’ use in Barristers’ Libraries in Halifax, Kentville and Sydney. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 12:00Most trusts and estates practitioners are familiar with passing of accounts; however, how do you handle the complicating factors in a difficult case? Deepen your expertise in the passing of accounts with an in-depth exploration of several advanced issues. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 09:00Attend this practical, “hands-on” program to gain the fundamental knowledge and strategies you need to draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements. This “how to” program is relevant to lawyers entering any area of commercial or transactional practice who are interested in improving their drafting and negotiating skills. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 12:30When insolvency and construction law, two highly specialized and complex areas of practice converge, the resulting issues can become confusing. Our panel of experts with extensive experience in both insolvency law and construction cases will explain the latest trends and developments in this challenging area, including a discussion on the impact of the recent decision in Royal Bank of Can Read More

Event Date: Friday, November 28, 2014 (All day)LIANS’ 6th annual Risk and Practice Management Conference will be held November 28, 2014 from 9:00 am to 4:15 pm at the Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2014 - 18:30Once again, we are delighted to announce the return of one of our most popular dinner programs. The Honourable Kenneth Campbell, Susan Reid and Frank Addario will discuss, debate and maybe even disagree on the most recent cases from our Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 (All day)(3-day) Due to the high demand for this workshop and its relevance to many workplaces, CTRI offers a train-the-trainer program for our De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations™ workshop. Training an internal trainer to deliver this workshop both enhances organization know-how and saves costs at the same time. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015 (All day)Understanding our communication style and how we interact with others is essential to positive and productive relations. Effective communication requires us not only to be aware of ourselves, but also to be responsive and aware of others. Read More

Event Date: Friday, February 20, 2015 (All day)Conflict has many sources, including disagreements, stress, personality differences and differences of opinions. While the results of conflict impact us individually, it also often has negative effects on the performance of groups. Many conflicts would not spiral out of control if people used conflict resolution techniques that are easy to learn and utilize. Read More

Event Date: Monday, March 23, 2015 (All day)Essential leadership skills and attributes often mean the difference between thriving or failing in a leadership role. This workshop is designed to help new or existing leaders increase their abilities to lead teams. Participants will gain skills to assess team dynamics and to improve trust and influence with those they are leading. Read More

Event Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 (All day)Organizational change is less effective when leadership is not focused on the impact change will have on employees. Managing the people side of change is often the most challenging and critical component of organizational transformation. Getting people on board and engaged in the change will greatly enhance the likelihood of new structures and approaches being implemented successfully. Read More

Event Date: Friday, April 10, 2015 (All day)For those who work in an environment where there is potential for violence, it is important to develop the skills needed to defuse dangerous situations. This workshop is designed to teach people to de-escalate potentially violent situations through assertiveness and interpersonal communication. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015 (All day)Diversity can be seen both as a challenge to manage or a source of conflict within our work environments; however, diversity can also be a valuable asset. This workshop helps participants to broadly examine specific elements and dynamics of diversity and inclusion as they relate to culture, identity, communicating across difference, power differentials and experiences of discrimination. Read More

Event Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - 08:30(3-day) Due to the high demand for this workshop and its relevance to many workplaces, CTRI offers a train-the-trainer program for our De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations™ workshop. Read More

Event Date: Thursday, June 18, 2015 (All day)Emotionally intelligent people are able to identify and assess their emotions and those of others and then use that information to guide their actions and influence the actions of others. While cognitive skills are important, it is emotional intelligence that has the greatest impact on people’s ability to be productive and work well with others. Read More